The 17th edition of BS7671:2008 wiring regulations finally came into
publication on the 21st of January 2008, the first amendment was added
in 2011. Any installation will have to comply with the 17th edition of
BS7671:2008 Including amendment No 1 :2011, if it is designed constructed
or tested from the 1st January 2012.

BS7671:2008 17th Edition with amendment 1, 2011

Copies of the 17th edition are available from Amazon, who are retailing
the 17th edition at around £5 cheaper than the IEE. This is the cheapest
way to purchase the 17th edition even considering the book is actually
published by the IEE!

The Wiring Regulations are the national standard to which all domestic
and industrial wiring must conform it contains 7 sections dealing with
all electrical installation design issues. This is a must for the C&G
2381/82 exam and the C&G 2391.

Changes that occurred when the 16th edition changed into the 17th edition.

These are only a general observation of the changes and are not complete
nothing to major apart from perhaps
Regulation 132.13 (drawings for all installations)
Chapter 41 RCD (required for sockets for general use as well as mobile
equipment )
Section 701 (Bathrooms Each circuit to require a 30mA RCD)

Chapter 1 Regulation 131.6 Requirements added to protect against voltage
disturbances, electromagnetic forces are the focus. Comment mostly affecting the equipment connected that it connected
to the installation so CE mark on it should and I repeat should mean the
equipments meets guidelines

Regulation 132.13 Documentation for every installation as per chapter
51 and part 6. Think this may mean old installations require the documentation as
well as new, only time will tell

Chapter 35 Draws attention to other statutory requirement such as building
regulations and others affecting amongst others fire escapes, extraction,
emergency lighting. Could mean a nervous few months as installations will be considered
with regulations other than outlined in BS 7671, should have always, but
now it seems fresh impedance will put on this.

Chapter 36 Requires consideration of the life of each to be took into
consideration. Not to sure what this means apart from the obvious.

Chapter 41 Direct contact now refers to basic protection and indirect
contact is called fault protection

These are only a general observation of the changes and are not complete
nothing to major apart from perhaps
Regulation 132.13 (drawings for all installations)
Chapter 41 RCD (required for sockets for general use as well as mobile
equipment )
Section 701 (Bathrooms Each circuit to require a 30mA RCD)

17th edition with amendment No 1: 2011, is due to come into affect form
January 1st 2012, any circuit designed after that should comply to the
17th version of BS 7671:2011